Chapter Text
The first time Yujin asked for his mom was when he was 2 years old and he was sick. Hanbin panicked so badly that Matthew, who held the favorite uncle title since Yujin was two months old (and it had nothing to do with them living together), had to take the baby in his arms and tell him a story that sounded like a fairy tale. It was not like Yujin actually understood any of it, but he stopped crying and slept with it.
The next time was almost at 5 years old, when he saw how other kids were picked up by their moms at kindergarten, but this time Hanbin was sort of more prepared because there was no Matt to the rescue, and he made up a story about his mom being too sick to be with him. And if there was a higher being out and up there then they should forgive him for this one.
And then he never asked again, not directly to his dad at least, until one time Hanbin accidentally talked about her after one too many glasses of wine. Matthew was there again, always a constant in both of their lives, so they were bound to have the awkward conversation with him present.
“Mom is not coming, right?” a tiny little eleven years Yujin asked in between dinner.
“Oh, buddy…” Matt said as he hugged him from the chair by his side.
“I don't think so, baby,” Hanbin whispered as he used all his will to hold his tears. “But don't worry, you have a happy family all the same. Me and your uncles…”
“I know!” he interrupted as if he didn't ask a complicated question. “But Doha keeps saying I don't and we always fight about it.”
“Doha… your school friend?”
“Yeah! I told him uncle Matt is the same as a mom,” he looked at both men present, confused. “He reads me bed time stories, takes me to the mall, he lives with us. Isn't it the same?!”
Now Matthew was holding his tears as he laughed.
“And I love you, buddy. It is the same. I even brought you a new uncle! That's not something a mom would do.”
“Uncle Tae is funny, I like him,” Yujin declared as he finished his meal.
Needless to say that turned into a whole other conversation about limits and how friends shouldn't say hurtful stuff.
After that last time, those kinds of questions were just ghosts in Hanbin's mind. He never knew how or what to say to his baby so he chose to not say anything unless Yujin asked. And he never asked much. At seventeen years old, Yujin realized long ago that his mother was simply not in the picture and it wasn't something that made him feel conflicted. He knew since he was a kid that his family was his dad, his aunt and uncles, and his grandma. It was just natural. What did make Yujin feel bad, however, was his dad. Not in a bad way, but after always looking after him he just didn't have time or energy for anything else, and Yujin always feared that he felt alone and there was no way to know. That sentiment only grew when his favorite uncles announced they were getting married.
“You think dad will ever do this?” he asked Matthew.
“Sneak out to give you beer? Nah.”
“Noooo,” he whined. “Get engaged, marry someone. Have you even seen him date?”
“Well, yes, sometimes,” Matt lied. “But he never thought about introducing someone in your life unless it was serious…”
“Hey, it's cake time. Don't let your dad see you drinking!” Taerae peeked through the balcony window to call them inside.
“Let's go before your uncle pushes me from here.”
Yujin sang happy birthday to Gyuvin, his cousin, ate cake and went back home thinking about his dad's dating life.
Monday was one of those days when Hanbin woke up from bad dreams feeling insecure. He thought he was doing a great job. Being a single father was definitely not an easy task, but he was doing his best, and Yujin was -if he can say so himself- a great kid. But the insecurities got the best (or worst) of him sometimes, like today, haunting him in a dream where a nameless woman came for their child, and his baby chose to leave him without a word.
Whatever. Nothing that a great cup of coffee didn't chase away. He got up and changed clothes, realizing his coffee would have to wait till the school because they were late.
“Yujinie, come on, we're late,” Hanbin said with calmness as he knocked on Yujin’s door.
“I'm coming!”
Yujin took his backpack and coat and ran to the front door. Before his dad could nag at him again he locked it with his keys and slid to the passenger seat.
“You know I can go to school alone, right?”
“At this hour? You'd miss all your first class and that's not happening…” Hanbin stopped at a red light and turned to look at his son. “Or is this your puberty speaking? Is it already the age when you don't want to spend time with your father?!”
The light changed to green and Yujin fake gagged.
“Can you come for me later? I'll go to a coffee shop with Gyuvin and his boyfriend.”
“Okay, ask if they need a ride home, we'll take them. Be good, I love you.”
“Me too… See you later!” Yujin sang as he stepped down from the car.
He started the car again and called his best friend (on speaker, he wasn't gonna go and cause an accident) to pick him up.
“Hello~” a voice in perfect intonation sang.
“Hey, Tae! I called Matt, right? I'm not imagining stuff.”
“I mean I don't know about your imagination but you called him, he's in the shower. I'll wait for you at the door.”
“You're my savior, thanks.”
Hanbin drove ten minutes to his best friend’s house and was received by none other than the famous soloist singer, Kim Taerae, who guided him inside to the fluffiest couch he ever met.
“Oh Mashu, will you ever be ready on time?” he asked as the Canadian man ran in just a towel to his room.
“Rough morning?” Hanbin looked at his friend like he was a ghost. “You never complain about my unpunctual husband, that's all.”
“Well, yes. Sorry Matt!” he sighed and looked at Taerae again. “I had a nightmare, and if you don't want to listen that's ok… but I dreamed about Yujin’s mom coming for him and he just left with her.”
“Oh, man, that kid’s never leaving you,” his best friend said as he sat beside his lover. “Unless he gets a girlfriend… or boyfriend, who knows.”
“Or for university,” Taerae added. “Tell him his uncle can get him anywhere he wants.”
“Let's go for a coffee and we better hurry up. Bye, babe.” Matthew kissed his husband goodbye and pulled his friend outside to his car.
“You didn't even let me say goodbye!” Hanbin said as he started the car. “Where are we going?”
“There's a cafe near Yujinie’s school, just go there and I'll guide you.”
Fifteen minutes later they arrived at a beautiful coffee shop. It looked comfy and Hanbin had the silly thought that if he ever owned a cafe it would look like this one. Pinkish and light blues were everywhere and the white tables looked like clouds. A guy that looked like a model took their order with a big smile and took Matt's card to cash their drinks.
“Could you give me a hand here?” the cashier asked someone.
“Okay, let's change places!”
Hanbin thought he passed away and ascended to heaven. The most beautiful guy he saw in his life walked up behind the counter to make their drinks as the model-guy walked to a table on the corner to take pictures of something. He didn't bother to see what but instead he kept looking at the red haired handsome that did his coffee in an elegant way.
“Caramel frappe and… black coffee with cream, here you go,” he said and smiled.
“Thank you,” Hanbin murmured as he watched the other's hands on the cup.
“You're welcome, hope to see you around again.”
Matt arched a brow at him and took his cup to follow him to the door.
“It says pull, man,” Matthew whispered when his best friend couldn't open the door.
Hanbin heard a giggle behind him and felt the heat rush to his cheeks. He sighed.
“Right.”
He pulled the door to go out and tried not to think of the beautiful beautiful man that made his coffee laughing at him for a silly mistake.
“You liked him that much, huh.”
“It's not that!”
“Yes, just try not to come here with Yujinie, you're embarrassing.”
“Shut up or you're walking home.”
They were late for work of course. Luckily the school's director likes them.
The days Gyuvin went for him at school were the best for Yujin. He loved his cousin because he felt like an older brother to him. He thought about that sometimes, what it felt like having siblings.
“Yujin you can order anything, I'll invite you today,” Ricky said.
“What about me?” Gyuvin whined.
“Yeah you too,” his boyfriend rolled his eyes.
He liked Ricky. He was sweet and attentive behind his bad boy image. Not like the guy before him, he was an asshole, Yujin would've punched him if he could.
“Hao!” Ricky called the guy behind the counter and he came with a sigh.
“You know I'm not a waitress right?” Ricky's uncle was the same age as his dad, or so he heard, but he looked so much younger.
After a bit of banter and a few minutes of chatting, their order was ready and brought to their table. Yujin ate and waited for the perfect moment (when Gyuvin and his boyfriend were too busy kissing to notice him anymore) and walked to the barista when there were no new customers.
“Mr. Hao…” he called and the guy turned around with a smile that could light a whole room. Yujin didn't know how to ask what he wanted so he went straight to the point. “Do you have a partner…?”
“Oh! No but I don't think we're a good fit…” he tried to joke.
“Oh no no no, I'm sorry!” Yujin felt the blood rush to his face but gained the courage to keep talking. “I'm asking for… a friend? I-He needs advice for getting a date.”
Hao laughed and remembered how his nephew talked about this kid. And Ricky was right you can't say no to him.
“Well, having a friend introduce you to someone is good. Or maybe a dating app, but personally I don't like them that much, you never really know who's on the other side.”
“I see… could I ask you again if it doesn't work?”
“Yes, of course.”
Yujin's phone rang at that moment and he went for his backpack.
“Sorry, I gotta go! See you next time! Thank you Mr. Hao!” He ran outside and looked for his dad's car to hop in.
“Your turn to go backseat,” Matt said from the companion seat when his nephew was close.
“That's not fair,” Yujin said as he closed the back door. “Hi, you're early today, dad.”
“We're having dinner with your uncles and we have to go grocery shopping…” Hanbin was still surprised he was back at the same shop he was in the morning. “You always come here with Gyuvin?”
“Yeah, it’s his boyfriend’s favorite shop,” he answered without thinking much.
Matt looked at Hanbin with a suggestive smile on his face. Hanbin just rolled his eyes and kept driving. An hour later they were parking at Matt's house again.
“Yujinie!” Taerae opened his arms to receive a hug from his nephew and couldn't give credit when he noticed the kid was getting taller than him. “Did they get you dessert?”
Yujin laughed, he had been hearing the same question after groceries since he was 11. Before he could answer, his dad spoke.
“Remind me not to go with them together ever again. I suddenly had two children!” Hanbin huffed as he walked behind Matthew to the kitchen.
“Uncle, can I ask for your help for something later?”
“Yes, of course. Go and change your clothes first.”
Taerae and Matt, much to Hanbin's opposition, had a guest room reconditioned just for his son. It’s not like he opposed because it didn't make him feel happy and honoured to tears, but because he thought if his friends looked over Yujin too much they'd never have a kid of their own. And he wanted nephews too, thank you very much.
After his dad and oldest uncle were banned from the kitchen, he was alone with Taerae, and he knew he wouldn't snitch on him with his dad.
“You know, uncle, I've been thinking of downloading a dating app…” he whispered and the older man just stopped his movement to look at him. “Could you help me to…?”
“Yes but! You have to tell me the minute you get a match, ok?”
Yujin giggled and took his phone out to get the app and filled all the information with help from his uncle. After dinner and before going home, he got a reminder with the addition of 'you have to tell me everything!' from Taerae. The next morning, he replaced all the information with his dad's.
“The weirdest thing it's happening, I swear,” Hanbin said to his best friend as they waited for their coffee.
"But how did you find out about it?"
"Wonyoung, the arts teacher, said she was sad I didn't responde to her 'super like' or something, and I had to pretend I knew what she was talking about!"
"You're too dramatic, you could've ask me," Taerae said.
The beautiful barista wasn't there today but the model guy -Jiwoong- was and Taerae couldn't keep his eyes off of him.
“I think someone is just playing with you, maybe they just put up your phone on one of those weird websites,” Matt explained. “Baby, for the love of God, wipe your mouth.”
“I still can't believe this is the first time you brought me here. This isn't what we promised in our vows. We promised we'd share beautiful views."
Hanbin kind of envied them. He couldn't think about joking like that with his partner. He was a bit possessive when he fell in love.
“Sorry, can we go back to the suspicious amount of messages asking me out when I never spoke with those women?”
“Women?” Tae asked, as if Hanbin didn't spend the last 20 minutes telling that story. “And why don't you go out with one?”
“I think that guy you ghosted is having his vengeance,” Matt said. "What was his name? Jaehyun?"
“I didn't ghost him! We went for dinner and it was awful so I thanked him and went home and never accepted a date again.”
“Again, why not just take the chance? It's not an option to date a woman again?”
“I think I already had my fair share with women...”
“I know,” Taerae interrupted. “Sorry. But maybe you can go and have some fun.”
“Sorry, I'm late, sorry Jiwoong~” a sweet voice crossed the door and three pairs of eyes followed it.
“Oh there he is,” Matt said to his husband. “That's Hanbinie’s crush.”
“You have great taste,” his friend joked.
“Ok I'm late for real now, see you later,” Hanbin said as he tried not to seem affected.
He got up and looked at the cute barista before pulling the door on his way out, he wouldn't embarrass himself again with pushing, no sir.
“I think I know who's behind the women incident,” Taerae said to his husband.
“What? How?”
“I can't tell you, sorry my love. Let's catch Hanbin, I don't want to walk back home, it's too cold outside.”
“You're alone today,” Hao said to the kid that was always in the company of his nephew and his boyfriend.
“Mr. Hao!” the kid looked up from his laptop and smiled. “Sorry, did I take the table too long? I can order again…”
“Don't worry about that, but I am curious about something. How did the date app go?”
“I'm not sure,” the young man answered. “My… friend said there were some chats here and there but nothing too good.”
He seemed worried about it and Hao wasn't sure how to continue with the conversation. And he was sure there was no ‘friend’ and the kid was asking for himself.
“Well that could happen, it's normal…”
“Maybe talking about your son is too much for the first date?”
“A son?” Hao was confused. Wasn't this kid like 16?
“Actually, it's for my dad. I wanted to find someone for him, you know? Someone to keep him in good company now that I'm grown-up.”
Hearing this kid with his puppy eyes and puffed cheeks call himself a ‘grown-up’ made Hao giggle. He would pinch his cheeks if he could.
“That's so sweet, Yujin,” he said. “But it's more complicated. You might not know all that you need for it…”
What if his dad had particular tastes? What if he had his heart so broken that he could never love again? What if he was gay? There were more possibilities than he could imagine.
“I know, but it's not like I can go and tell him to go out and meet someone, he won't listen.”
“Well you could try,” at this point Hao got up and was cleaning the tables around the kid. “Or have someone else to tell him. Maybe your grandma? Or your mom, if they-”
“I think everyone did already. But you're right, I could try…” Yujin wasn't convinced about that.
“You could bring him here one day, I'll cheer you up from the shadows.”
Yujin smiled at him with big shiny eyes, nodding. Hao would've melted on the spot if he didn't have a business to run.
“Anything you decide will be fine. And if you need to talk you can come here even if you don't buy anything,” Hao walked back to Yujin's side and ruffled his hair before going back to work.
“Thank you!” Yujin said as the red haired man walked away.
“Who's that kid?” Jiwoong asked his friend as they prepared an order.
“He's friends with Ricky's boyfriend. Isn't he so cute?"
“Yes, he is… Does he have a cute dad too?” Jiwoong joked.
“Oh shut up. I don't know. Why do you care? I'm gonna tell your girlfriend.”
They both laughed and kept working.
Hanbin was (not) ashamed to admit he went back to the coffee shop every time he could now. The coffee was great, it was on the way to work and Jiwoong and Hao were easy to talk to. And well, maybe he did have a crush on the latter.
“Hi again,” Hao smiled at him from behind the cashier. “Are you taking your usual today?”
“Hi Hao! Yes, and a cold mocha with extra cream, please,” he smiled back.
“That's new,” the other guy commented as he took his card to cash.
“It's for my kid, he got sick after his exams and he was craving a frappuccino or so he says…”
“Oh you have a son? You look too young for it.”
Hanbin kept talking but Hao got a little lost on his thoughts to listen, because now he was doubting about his flirting with this handsome man. Did he misread the signs?
“What about you?” Is all he heard coming back to reality. Hanbin realized Hao looked a little lost, so he repeated his question. “May I know how old you are? You look younger than me,” he smiled.
“I'm 36,” Hao smiled back. “And I don't have kids but I was my nephew's guardian until he got too big and now he just won't listen to me anymore. He even moved out alone,” he laughed a little thinking about Ricky.
“Oh you have essentially the same experience as me,” Hanbin giggled. “It's sweet you took care of him until he grew up.”
“We are from China,” Hao explained as he prepared the second drink. Why was he even talking about this? “And I came here to study since I was young and it went great for me so our family wanted to try that for him too and well, I was already here and knew the language… it just felt natural to send him with me.”
Hanbin was nodding attentively to his story. Sadly he was done preparing drinks and couldn't steal anymore time from this.
“Bring your kid someday, I'd like to meet the person behind the sugary drink,” Hao offered.
“I definitely will,” the other man said. “See you next time!”
“Of course, you know where to find me.”
Hao watched the beautiful man walk out of his shop and sighed as he prepared another drink, although this one without chatting with the client.
“You're down so bad,” Jiwoong whispered to him as he helped him with the new order.
“I know…” he didn't even bother lying to his best friend. “I'm about to break my rule of no asking clients out.”
“I told you it was a silly rule,” the other said.
Yeah, Hao didn't want to think about his best friend and his happy relationship with the first regular client they ever had.
“You're an awful influence,” Hao said and Jiwoong laughed out loud.
After Yujin's exams were over and he recovered from the flu, Hanbin asked him to choose a place to go out and celebrate. They somehow ended up at the coffee shop they both frequently went to but together this time.
“Yujin!” Hao welcomed his favorite client. “I haven't seen you in a while.”
“Oh, you know each other?” a second voice said and Hao knew this voice by heart now. He just didn't understand why they were together.
“Hanbin?” he asked.
“You know my dad?” Yujin said just as confused.
“I come here with Matt a lot in the morning,” Hanbin lied. Matt was here one time out of five he came. “Hi, Hao.”
“Hi, Hanbin,” he answered sweetly. He felt his cheeks warm, he was blushing for sure. “Just the usual?”
“I want a red velvet piece,” Yujin added.
“And two red velvet pieces,” Hanbin continued.
“You can take a seat, I'll take everything there,” Hao offered with a shy smile.
“Thank you Mr. Hao!” the kid said as he took his dad away.
“So he did have a cute dad.” Jiwoong had mastered the art of great takes in bad moments.
“I'm about to crash out but yeah, he did and I just found out,” Hao answered to his friend.
“Don't be dramatic, you have them both in your pocket. You just have to close the deal,” Jiwoong said as he plated the cake. “You can do it.”
"What are you even talking about...?"
Hao took a deep breath and walked to the table where his two favorite clients were sitting. He left the trail with their order and smiled as he walked away.
“Dad, I have to confess something,” Yujin said.
“Okay, I'm listening.”
“You know the weird messages thing? I heard you talked about it with uncle Matt…” he looked at his dad nodding so he continued. “It was my fault.”
Hanbin couldn't understand so he looked at his kid for further explanation.
“I'm sorry, I know it was stupid. I signed on a date app and filled your information, that's why you were getting those messages. It didn't work, obviously, or I'm just a bad wingman or something.”
Hanbin laughed. He shouldn't, he probably should reprimand Yujin for this and have a talk about how it's bad to impersonate someone on the internet but he just laughed.
“You're not mad?” the kid asked.
“Oh, my baby. That's probably my fault, you've been worrying about me right? We can leave the internet safety discussion for later.”
“I'm sorry,” he repeated.
“It's okay, just don't message anyone anymore.”
“I deleted it like two weeks ago,” Yujin allowed himself to laugh now.
“You don't have to worry about me like that, sweetheart.”
“But I do! I want you to have someone like uncle Matt and uncle Tae have.”
“I've never said this to you because I didn't need to, but since your mother I…” Hanbin stopped mid sentence and reworked it on his head. “Nevermind, the important thing is I have someone I like now. I think.”
“Oh… Oh really?!”
“Shhh, we're in public,” he said when his child was loud. “But I really want you to know I never needed any more company than you, Yujinie. You're all the best I could ever ask for.”
Yujin looked down at his coffee as he nodded, a clear sign he was feeling shy.
“Still, I want you to have someone…” Yujin insisted.
“Well, I can ask them out right now if that makes you feel better,” Hanbin looked through the corner of his eye for Hao.
Yujin did the same, he looked aside for the cheer up he was promised he would have. And there Hao was, smiling at him and showing his fist up to encourage him.
“Really, dad? I bet you won't,” he said to poke him. He didn't even know who this person was but he was happy.
Hanbin sighed. He did have the courage to do it, but was it ok to show him now that he had a preference for another man? Would his kid judge him? He could hear Matt and his sister, Areum, in his head telling him to not be a coward and be happy instead. And isn't that what Yujin wants too? That's why he was worried enough to put his number on the internet (Hanbin made a mental note again, to save that convo for later).
“Dad, are you good?” Yujin asked when he noticed his dad was spacing out.
“Yeah, I just need you to wait here for a minute,” he said as he got up.
He walked to the cashier. It was now or never.
“Bin? Is everything good? Do you need something else?” Hao asked when he noticed the man approaching.
Hanbin didn't even noticed the new nickname this time.
“I need… I mean, would you give me your number? And go out with me to dinner?”
Hao needed to sit. He had to close his eyes and shake his head for a second to know this was real. Oh, he didn't mean to shake his head like saying ‘no’.
“Yes! Yes I would,” he hurriedly whispered when he saw those beautiful brown eyes go down in defeat. “I'm sorry you just took me by surprise…”
“It's okay... I'm sorry I'm doing this in the middle of your shift,” he offered Hao his phone.
“Well I'm here half the time so there's no other option,” Hao laughed. “Wait! Yujin?”
“I don't think he's catching up on what's happening…” They both looked at the kid that was also looking at them. It's like you could see in real life a big question mark floating over his head.
“You have the sweetest kid,” Hao said. “I'm free Friday night, if that works for you.”
“Sounds great, I'll pick you up here?”
“At 8:30?” Hao ask. “I'm not a picky eater, by the way.”
Hanbin laughed and looked at his son again, but he looked excited now.
“I know a great place. I'll text you later.”
“Awesome, enjoy your meal,” Hao smiled.
Hanbin walked back to his table and his child, smiling triumphant.
“Oh my god,” Yujin said. “Did you just…?” Hanbin's heart was beating fast enough to power up a whole house like he was a hamster on a wheel. “Hao is great, you need to impress him a lot.”
“I have my biggest card right here,” Hanbin joked.
“I'll only let you use me to flirt this time, I owe you for the messages. But never again,” his kid threatened.
“Noted.”
“I need to tell uncle Tae about this.”
“He knew!?”
“I asked him for help with the app but I didn't say anything about you! He must've figured it out later because he asked me about it.”
“I'm gonna kill him,” Hanbin laughed. “And we'll talk about this later.”
“Yes, dad,” Yujin said as he poorly imitated a military salute.
“I have a date on Friday,” Hanbin continued. “Will you go to sleep with your uncles?”
“You need me to go? Gross,” Yujin laughed when his dad was about to clarify. “Yes, I'll go. You go out and have fun.”